Page 40 of Unbridled Fire
“Oskar will be here in a few minutes,” he said, crossing his arms. “He’s going to ask you to turn on Michael. I’d say yes if you want to live.”
My eyebrows lifted. “Well, I do like living, but I’ll never turn on Michael, so we’re going to be at an impasse.”
“Stubborn woman,” he muttered. “Just do it so you can get out of here. He doesn’t want to hurt you. He wants Michael.”
“Then, I’ll trust him not to hurt me.” I lifted my chin in defiance.
Maxim rolled his eyes and checked his phone.
A few minutes later, a tall man with broad shoulders and light brown hair appeared. Two men followed behind him, and I realized one was Dmitry.
“Hello, Katia.Ma usun, et Maxim hoolitses sinu eest?”
“Yes, he’s taken good care of me, and I prefer English to Estonian.”
Oskar arched a brow. “So, you shun your heritage?”
“Estonia gave me nothing but pain. Sadly, the trend continues.”
“I can do without the dramatics,” Oskar muttered. “You’re a very smart woman, Katia. That’s evidenced by the fact that you’ve skillfully hidden all of Michael’s illegal transactions over the years. Now, it’s time for you to turn against him and go on the record about his dealings. That’s all we ask. If you commit to doing that, you can go home.”
I batted my eyelashes. “I don’t need flattery about my intelligence from a man who has none. And I’ll never turn on Michael, so what happens next? Will you kill me?”
“Oh, I assure you I’m intelligent, and don’t need confirmation from a two-bit mafia whore.” He spat on the dirty carpet.
“Calling me a whore isn’t going to help your cause—”
He stepped toward me and roughly grabbed my chin. Squeezing it, he forced me to look in his eyes. “Michael started this war. We were content to co-exist, but now, things are in motion. I won’t kill you, but my new partner will. He’ll defile every part of your pretty little body and make you scream until he cuts out your throat. My loyalty to your Estonian heritage prevents me from wanting to torture you, but Marco Nunez will in a heartbeat.”
Jerking my chin from his hand, I swallowed thickly. “Is he here in New York?”
Oskar gave a nod. “You have two hours to think it over. When I come back, it will be with Marco. Think wisely.”
My eyes lifted to Dmitry, who was standing a few feet behind Oskar. His eyes were downcast; his hands clenched in front of his waist. He looked extremely uncomfortable, which caused hope to swell in my chest.
“Dima, you don’t have to be a part of this. Tell Leo or Alexis where I am—”
Oskar backhanded me, splitting my lip open as I tasted blood. Another blow hit the top of my cheek, catching the bottom of my eye socket, and I closed my eyes from the intense pain. He landed one last blow directly against my eye, and I groaned as I felt it begin to swell shut.
“Jesus Christ!” I screamed. “I thought you weren’t going to torture me.”
“I’m not, but I never said I was above hurting you. Dmitry did the right thing by telling me that you and your FBIboyfriendapproached him. He’s loyal to me and will never turn.”
I squinted at Dmitry through the one eye that wasn’t rapidly swelling closed. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, and I knew that if I had just a bit more time with him, I could get him to see reason...
“Two hours, Katia. I want your commitment to turn on Michael. Dmitry will send some deposits this afternoon, and we’ll begin the process of reporting Michael to the feds.”
I stayed quiet, wondering how in the hell I was going to get myself out of this terrible situation.
“Don’t be a stupid bitch,” Oskar spat. “Your life isn’t worth protecting him.”
He stalked out of the room, Dmitry and the other soldier quickly following.
Maxim approached me and crouched. “Jesus, lady. Just give him what he wants.”
“I need some ice,” I said, licking the blood at the corner of my lip. “And a fucking band-aid.”
“I have a first aid kit,” he said, rising. “I’ll clean what I can.”
